Deer, turkey, and bass tournament regulations top public hearing agenda

The Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission will conduct a public meeting and hearing in Topeka on March 13. The public is invited to attend all sessions of the meeting, which will be conducted at Topeka Memorial Hall, 120 SW 10th in Topeka. The afternoon session will begin at 2:30 p.m. The evening public hearing will begin at 7 p.m.

Items scheduled for the afternoon session include:

• presentation of the 2007 Wildlife Habitat Conservation Award;
• update on the 2008 legislative session;
• update on the department’s 2009 budget;
• reports from the Kansas Livestock Commissioner on high-fence deer operations and feral hogs; and
• department reports on WIHA access, early migratory bird seasons, upland bird seasons and the economics of hunting/angling/wildlife watching.

Items to be discussed in workshop session include deer seasons and permits, department lands regulations, cabin camping fees and antelope seasons.

The commission will recess at 5 p.m., then reconvene at the same location at 7 p.m. for the public hearing portion of the agenda. Topics on the evening agenda include:

• big game legal equipment and taking methods;
• deer permits, descriptions and restrictions;
• use of crossbows for big game hunting by persons with disabilities;
• wild turkey legal equipment and taking methods;
• elk open season, bag limit and permits; and
• weigh-in regulations for black bass tournaments.

Time will be set aside in both the afternoon and evening sessions for public comment on topics that are not on the agenda. If necessary, the commission will recess on March 13 and reconvene March 14 to complete their business.
If notified in advance, the department will have an interpreter available for the hearing impaired. To request an interpreter, call the Kansas Commission of Deaf and Hard of Hearing at 1-800-432-0698. Any individual with a disability may request other accommodations by contacting the commission secretary at 620-672-5911.

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